Ordinary Angels, in theatres this February, tells the true story of a troubled woman who rallied a Kentucky community to save a three-year-old’s life.

Fitting Right In

In the early 1990s, Sharon Stevens (Hilary Swank) is working as a hairdresser, trying—and failing—to stay sober. A friend advises her to find a reason to live that is bigger than she is.

That’s when she reads a newspaper article about the Schmitt family. Ed (Alan Ritchson) is the father of two young daughters, Ashley and Michelle, who were both born with a rare liver disease.Two years before, Ashley had undergone a liver transplant. Now, Michelle is on the waiting list, her condition worsening every day. Ed is grieving the sudden loss of his wife, worried about his daughters’ health and drowning in medical bills.

Sharon can’t fix the first two problems, but she can help with the third. She starts soliciting donations for the family, raising tens of thousands of dollars to pay off their medical debts.

Sharon grows closer to the Schmitt family, even helping to care for the girls, but Ed is hesitant to allow her into his daughters’ lives.

“That woman is a mess,” he tells his mother, Barbara (Nancy Travis). 

Barbara just smiles and replies, “That’s perfect. She’ll fit right in.” 

To Save a Life?

Then in January 1994, the Schmitts get the call they’d been waiting for. There is a liver available—in Omaha, Nebraska, almost a thousand kilometres from their home. The transplant could save Michelle’s life, but they have only hours to get there. 

Sharon had already arranged for a private jet to fly them to Omaha when the call came. Overnight, however, the worst snowstorm in the state’s history hits the area. The roads are closed, and there is no way Ed and the girls can make it to the airport. 

Even though we can’t fix every problem for every person, we can almost always do something for someone. DIANE STARK

The hospital suggests sending a medical helicopter to pick them up, but with the blanket of ice and snow on the ground, there is nowhere for it to land safely. And Michelle’s life depends on getting to Omaha that night.

Sharon calls the radio stations, asking for volunteers to clear the parking lot of a local church so the helicopter can land there. Despite the unprecedented storm, dozens of people show up with shovels, ready to help.

Will their efforts be enough to get Michelle to Omaha in time to save her life? 

Role of a Lifetime

Sharon didn’t have her life together when she stepped in to help Ed and his daughters. A friend asked her how it had become her responsibility to save Michelle.

“Because I’m here and because I can,” she answered.

She just did what she could to improve their situation.

As Christians, we’re called to help people when we can. And even though we can’t fix every problem for every person, we can almost always do something for someone.

There are lots of roles to play. Many of them may appear to be quite ordinary, but never underestimate what we can accomplish when we work together with God’s help.

Our role might be to offer someone in need a meal or a place to stay. Our part might be babysitting for a single mom or changing the oil in her car. And maybe someday, God might even ask us to shovel out a church parking lot so that a medical helicopter can land and save a life.

Whatever we do in the name of God is always extraordinary!

Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate

This story is from: